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McCain is in an impossible position. He is running against eight years of George W. Bush, as well as the Democrats. It won't work. Even if it were true, even if he is one of the few "mavericks" in the Republican party, the question remains about the depth of the bench. That is, who will be part of the government of this loner. It would seem that after eight years of hapless Republican rule, the bench is darn near empty.

But I feel sorry for him. He can't run as Bush's logical successor; he has to run against him. And by running against him, he doesn't do himself much good.

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